Volume 7, No. 1, English, July de 2001

www.ipgri.cgiar.org/A gateway to informationon plant geneticresources ....................... 1

DIVA: A new geographicinformation tool to manageplant genetic resources . 4

Bibliography on under-utilized Andean roots andtuberes ........................... 5

REMERFI: A Plataform touse agrobiodiversity inMesoamericas ................ 6

Descriptor lists to improveplant genetic resourcesconservation and use ..... 8

Etnobotanical inventoryof fruits native to theAmericas ........................ 9

New activities andprojects ........................ 10

Molecular geneticsin IPGRI ......................... 11

Vavilov-Frankel Fellowship2002 ............................. 12

Training opportunities .. 13

Plant genetic resources inthe Internet .................. 14

Readings on plant geneticresources ..................... 15

Contents

A gateway to informationA gateway to informationA gateway to informationA gateway to informationA gateway to informationon plant genetic resourceson plant genetic resourceson plant genetic resourceson plant genetic resourceson plant genetic resources

IIIIIPGRI launched its current web site in July 2000 to serve theworld’s plant genetic resources community. It is designed with athematic approach to function as a gateway to information on plantgenetic resources in the Internet. It contains information on IPGRI’svision, programme and impact as well as tools for consultation,databases, publications and links to institutions working on relatedtopics.

IPGRI’s site has information for a variety of target audiencesincluding scientists, donors, policy and decision-makers, educa-tors and trainers, students, and organizations from the public andprivate sectors. From the home page, information is organized bytheme (see box) to quickly lead users to the technical or institu-tional aspects of their interest.

Within Institutional information, users can find IPGRI’s vision,mission, strategy, organizational structure, information from theBoard of Trustees, vacancies and contact details of the Institute’sheadquarters and regional offices. Technical information is orga-nized by topic and region. Within the Genetic resources themes,users can find descriptions of specific projects such as those onin situ conservation (www.ipgri. cgiar.org/themes/in_situ_project/home /insituhome/htm) or forest genetic resources (www.ipgri.cgiar.org/programmes/grst/FGR/FGRhomepage.htm). Projectsand activities conducted by IPGRI all over the world are describedwithin Regions.

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Institutional informationGenetic resources themesRegionsNetworksInformation resources

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Themes on the IPGRI web siteThemes on the IPGRI web siteThemes on the IPGRI web siteThemes on the IPGRI web siteThemes on the IPGRI web site

Newsletter for the AmericasVolume 7, No. 1, English,

July 2001

The Newsletter for the Americasis published by the IPGRI Ameri-cas Group. It highlights activitieson plant genetic resources con-ducted by IPGRI and its partnersin the region. It is also publishedin Spanish as Boletín de lasAméricas. Its contents may bereproduced with credit to thesource.

For contributions and furtherinformation, please contact News-letter for the Americas, IPGRI A-mericas Group, AA 6713, Cali,Colombia. Phone: (57-2) 445-0048/9;Fax: (57-2) 445-0096; Email:ciat-ipgri@cgiar.org; Web address:http://www.ipgri. cgiar.org.

The International Plant GeneticResources Institute (IPGRI) is anautonomous international scientificorganization, supported by theConsultative Group on Internatio-nal Agricultural Research (CGIAR).IPGRI’s mandate is to advance theconservation and use of plantgenetic resources for the benefit ofpresent and future generations.IPGRI operates through threeprogrammes: (1) the Plant GeneticResources Programme, (2) theCGIAR Genetic ResourcesSupport Pro-gramme and (3) theInternational Network for theImprove-ment of Banana andPlantain (INIBAP). The interna-tional status of IPGRI is conferredunder an Establishment Agreementsigned by 48 countries.

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IPGRI’s web site is flexible andallows searching for information invarious ways. Users can searchfor free text in the pages or usethe site map. They can also retrieveinformation quickly by searching invarious databases.

For example, technical publica-tions as well as public awarenessmaterials (Annual Report,Geneflow magazine and the pgrbulletins) can be found in thepublications catalogue database(www.ipgri. cgiar.org/publications/indexpub.htm). Another databasehelps users identify training oppor-tunities.

The links directory (www.ipgri.cgiar.org/links/select.asp) leadsto institutions and their web sites

and the information desk(www.ipgri.cgiar.org/library/re-sources/library.htm) to IPGRI’slibrary and scientific references.If you want to contact IPGRIexperts on a given topic or findsomeone in particular, the staffdatabase will give you names withtheir corresponding fields of exper-tise and contact details.

The pages of all IPGRI regionaloffices describe all activities andprojects IPGRI is conducting inspecific regions. IPGRI activities inthe Americas are detailed in a sub-site (http://www.ipgri.cgiar.org/regions/Americas) with its own sitemap, to help you understand howinformation is organized andquickly find it. The Americas sub-site pages, organized under the

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eight strategic choices ofIPGRI, also link to relevantpages within the IPGRI’s siteand elsewhere, and to publica-tions and information resourcesassociated with specific activi-ties.

A recent survey indicates thatIPGRI’s web site is visited22,000 times a month. The mostfrequently visited pages are thepublications catalogue and thesection on training, which offers

training materials that userscan download. The most down-loaded IPGRI publication is theGuidebook for Genetic Re-sources Documentation,followed by the Training Moduleon Ex Situ Conservation ofPlant Genetic Resources (inSpanish), the Bibliography onNeotropical Fruits, the Inven-tory of Fruits from the Ameri-cas, all published by the IPGRIAmericas Group, and theDescriptors for Capsicum.

IPGRI’s web site will continueto grow in contents and links topages of partner institutions.The Americas pages will beenriched with informationproducts, project results andlinks to IPGRI partners in theregion. The Spanish version ofthe Americas pages will beavailable at the end of 2001.

For further information contactMargarita Baena<m.baena@cgiar.org>.

PPPPPlant genetic resources management is acomplex process that goes from identifyinga gene pool to conserving and using itsgenetic resources. Many activities in thisprocess generate and require geographically-referenced data that can be more easilyanalyzed with geographic information system

(GIS) technology. GIS can combine geneticdiversity data with information such as popu-lation density, climate, topography and soil,thus being a useful tool to monitor geneticdiversity, select potential sites for collecting,design reserves or develop conservationstrategies.

In collaboration with national and internationalorganizations, IPGRI is developing innovativemethodologies and tools to support the use ofGIS in countries in the Americas region. Thisinitiative includes the design, development,promotion and distribution of low-cost and

easy-to-use tools such as DIVA–a recentlyreleased software to manage and analyzegermplasm spatial data.

DIVA was developed cooperatively with theInternational Potato Center (CIP) and withsupport of the System-wide Genetic ResourcesProgramme (SGRP), a collaborative effort ofthe centers of the Consultative Group on Inter-national Agricultural Research. DIVA allowsusers to find and verify the coordinates of anaccession or draw data on climate associatedwith that accession, identify diversity hot spotsor find materials with desired characteristics ina given geographical area. Preliminary versionsof DIVA were released in training events con-ducted by IPGRI in Africa, Asia, Latin Americaand the Middle East, with support from organi-zations and IPGRI offices in those regions.Users of the software find it easy to apply andhave given suggestions to improve it.

DIVA is available free of charge at http://gis.cip.cgiar.org/gis/tools/diva.htm; copies of theuser manual and a tutorial can be downloadedfrom the same site, managed by CIP. Geo-referenced data about countries in the region,including climate, land use, population densityand administrative boundaries can be drawnfrom http://gis.cip.cgiar.org/gis/data/MapServer.htm.

For further information and comments on DIVA,contact Luigi Guarino at IPGRI <l.guarino@cgiar.org> and/or Robert Hijmans at CIP<r.hijmans@cgiar.org>. More information onIPGRI activities on GIS is available on theIPGRI web pages (http://www.ipgri.cgiar.org/regions/Americas).

DIVAA new geographic information tool to manageA new geographic information tool to manageA new geographic information tool to manageA new geographic information tool to manageA new geographic information tool to manageplant genetic resourcesplant genetic resourcesplant genetic resourcesplant genetic resourcesplant genetic resources

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RRRRRoots and tubers are present in the diets of people aroundthe world. The most well-known are potato (Solanumtuberosum) and cassava (Manihot esculenta), both native tothe Americas. Root and tuber crops native to the Andesinclude yacon (Polymnia sonchifolia ), white carrot (Arracaciaxanthorrhyza), mauka (Mirabilis expansa), maca (Lepidiummeyenii), achira (Canna edulis), oca (Oxalis tuberosa),mashua (Tropaeolum tuberosum) and ulluco (Ullucustuberosus).

Andean roots and tubers are valued for their nutrient contentand resistance to diseases, pests and frosts. Little is knownabout these crops outside their region of origin despite theirunrealized potential for more widespread consumption andagribusiness. Oca flour, for example, can be used in bakingas a substitute (25%) of wheat flour. Maca and white carrotare rich in iron and calcium and produce a good qualitystarch for baby food. Mashua tubers have a high energycontent and the plant’s foliage can be fed to animals. Thehigh sugar content of yacon makes it attractive for alcoholproduction.

To raise awareness and stimulate research on underutilizedAndean roots and tubers, the IPGRI Americas Group hascompiled 451 bibliographic references of research on thesecrops conducted by a number of institutions in the regionand worldwide. The Bibliography on underutilized Andeanroots and tubers, with citation and Agrovoc descriptors andavailable at http://www.ipgri.cgiar.org/publications/pubfile.asp?ID_PUB=624, is organized under eight topics includingtaxonomy and evolution (102 references), chemical compo-sition (50), crop management and production (66), propaga-tion (50), plant pathology (32), physiology (41), entomology(7) and plant breeding (103).

Compiling this information was not an easy task and we areaware that some theses and monographs may have beenoverlooked despite our best efforts to include as many aspossible. This bibliography will give readers a good idea ofwhich aspects of Andean root and tuber crops have beenstudied and which need more attention, such as entomologyand pathology. IPGRI encourages researchers to dissemi-nate their publications and record them in fast bibliographicinformation retrieval systems.

For further information contact Dimary Libreros<d.libreros@cgiar.org>.

Bibliographyon underutilized Andean roots and tuberson underutilized Andean roots and tuberson underutilized Andean roots and tuberson underutilized Andean roots and tuberson underutilized Andean roots and tubers

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A platform to use agrobiodiversityA platform to use agrobiodiversityA platform to use agrobiodiversityA platform to use agrobiodiversityA platform to use agrobiodiversityin Mesoamericain Mesoamericain Mesoamericain Mesoamericain Mesoamerica

REMERFI

TTTTThe biological wealth of Mesoamerica,known for the plants it has contributed tothe world’s food supply, contains manyother species that could further diversifythe diet and agriculture of this region andbeyond. However, Mesoamerican cropdiversity is threatened by changes incultivation practices and the replacementof native varieties by others with a narrowgenetic base. To counterbalance thesethreats, the seven Mesoamerican coun-tries–Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala,Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua and Pana-ma–established in the early 90s theMesoamerican Plant Genetic ResourcesNetwork (REMERFI) with support from theInternational Plant Genetic ResourcesInstitute (IPGRI), the Centro AgronómicoTropical de Investigación y Enseñanza(CATIE), and the Inter-American Institutefor Cooperation in Agriculture (IICA). RE-MERFI is supported by national and inter-national organizations, mainly by theGerman Agency for Technical Cooperation(GTZ) which has supported the coordinationof network activities.

REMERFI strengthens the national plantgenetic resources programmes of Meso-american countries through collaborativeresearch and training. The network servesas a platform for countries to address keyissues on the conservation and use of theirplant genetic resources at the regional level.

REMERFI’s agenda includes the creationand strengthening of National Commissionsof Plant Genetic Resources that bringtogether research institutes, non-govern-mental organizations, institutions of highereducation, and local farmer and indigenousorganizations. Members of the commissionsparticipate in discussions at the countryand regional levels on topics such as

biosafety, genetic resourcesvaluation, access to germplasmand intellectual property rights.REMERFI has focused its re-search activities on studyingand promoting underutilizednative crops such as sapotes andannonas. With support from theInter-American DevelopmentBank, REMERFI participated inthe project Diversity, Conserva-tion and Sustainable Use ofGenetic Resources Native toTropical America, coordinatedby IPGRI. As a result of thisproject, a set of morphologicaldescriptors was developed andused to characterize 3000 sapotetrees. Protocols were also devel-oped for isoenzymatic charac-terization and a technique forgrafting sapotes was published.The national scientists trainedas a result of their involvement inthe sapote project are nowapplying their skills on a projectentitled Diversity, Conservationand Sustainable Use of PriorityAnnona Species in Mesoamerica,which is expected to increasethe conservation and harvest ofthis underutilized group of fruitcrops in the region.

REMERFI promotes collaborativeresearch at the regional level asevidenced by a study entitledFarmers’ perception of lossescaused by Hurricane Mitch inHonduras and Nicaragua, con-ducted in conjunction with variousCGIAR centres. The study wasbased on information providedby over 800 subsistence farmers

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from the area affected by thehurricane, where informal systemsto produce, store and exchangeseeds of maize, beans and sorghumprevailed. The study confirmed thatpoor farmers maintain great geneticvariability of both local and improvedvarieties. Up to eighteen varieties ofbeans and fourteen of maize werefound in some locations, demon-strating the resiliency of thesesystems in disaster situations. Thestudy also indicated that farmersactively select seed of theirpreferred varieties and exchangethem with other farmers. Up to65% of the seed planted in Hondu-ras and 75% in Nicaragua camefrom farmers’ exchange. Theseresults are important for designingappropriate in situ conservationstrategies and for understandingthe informal management of culti-vated diversity in Mesoamerica,initiatives that deserve supportfrom the international community.

REMERFI has been successfulin promoting training activitiesin Mesoamerica during the pastdecade. More than 300 profession-als have been trained in topicsthat include information manage-ment, intellectual property rightsand access to germplasm, bio-safety and genetically-modifiedorganisms, and crop production.Some specialists attended ad-vanced courses on plant geneticresources and related themes withsupport from the Spanish Agencyfor International Cooperation(AECI) and are now actingas trainers and increasing thecritical mass of genetic resourcesscientists in the network membercountries.

REMERFI is committed to strengthen-ing the capacity of Mesoamerican

countries to conserve and use their plantgenetic resources. It will continue to focusits training activities in three areas–agrobiodiversity and the relationship be-tween agriculture and the environment,implications of international treaties andagreements on the conservation ofagrobiodiversity, and genetic resourcesvaluation and use.

Future research activities include a regionalproject on in situ and on-farm conservation,that has been submitted for funding to theGlobal Environmental Facility (GEF).Successful cases on the valuation ofnative crops such as peach palm (Bactrisgasipaes) are being documented to showthat research, conservation and develop-ment of neglected native crops can beprofitable.

REMERFI will also work towards harmo-nizing national legislation governing theaccess to and exchange of germplasm inMesoamerica and the distribution of ben-efits derived from its use. Protocols foraccess to genetic resources will be devel-oped in collaboration with researchers,farmers, communities and policy makers,using examples from other regions andsharing the resulting information with otherplant genetic resources networks.

The experience gained by REMERFIshows that countries can work together todefine and meet common goals regardingmanagement of their agrobiodiversity, inaccordance with national priorities and instep with emerging trends and policies.

For further information on REMERFI, contactRegional Coordinator, Mesoamerican PlantGenetic Resources Network, Av. ManuelGallardo y Final 1ª Av. Norte, Santa Tecla, ElSalvador. Telephone and fax (503) 288-2062.Email: remerfi@es.com.sv.

Adapted from Conservación y uso sostenible de laagrobiodiversidad en Mesoamérica (Priscila Henríquez)

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GGGGGenetic resources conservedin genebanks are far more usefulwhen accompanied by detailedinformation on their origin, char-acteristics and behavior. Thisinformation should be accurateand standardized so it can beefficiently organized, analyzed,retrieved and shared. Descriptorsprovide a standardized “language”through which a crop’s attributescan be measured and promisingaccessions identified.

Since 1977, IPGRI, in collaborationwith experts from research insti-tutions and national plant geneticresources programmes, has devel-oped descriptor lists for nearly 90crops. This effort has contributedto standardized germplasm char-acterization, facilitated data ex-change and increased geneticresources use.

The development of descriptor listsis based on wide consultationswith experts and users, includinggenebank curators, plant breedersand crop specialists, until consensusis reached on the final product. Astudy on technology adoption con-ducted by the CGIAR at the end ofthe 90s showed that IPGRI des-criptor lists are widely recognizedas the international standard forcrop genetic resources descriptionand found that they are being used

to improve plant genetic resources conservation and useto improve plant genetic resources conservation and useto improve plant genetic resources conservation and useto improve plant genetic resources conservation and useto improve plant genetic resources conservation and useDescriptor lists

in 137 countries. IPGRI descriptorshave also inspired national programmestaff to develop their own lists for locallyimportant minor crops.

The concept of a descriptor list contin-ues to evolve in response to the needsof users. In the beginning, characteriza-tion work was done with a minimum listthat over time was gradually enricheduntil it became a very long and, in somecases, cumbersome to apply. Someoverly-detailed lists were later refinedand reduced to focus only on trulydiscriminatory characters. In the mid90s, new sections and tools began to

be added to the descriptor lists, suchas phenological scales, color charts,germplasm collecting forms, ethnobo-tanical and molecular descriptors andtranslations in several languages. Theconcept of a multiple-crop passportdescriptor list was also introduced.

To meet the large demand for addi-tional crop descriptor lists, IPGRI isdeveloping guidelines for the produc-tion of descriptors that will allownational programme staff to developthem following IPGRI’s methodology.Production of new lists has alsoincreased as a result of collaborationwith crop networks, IPGRI regionaloffices and other CGIAR centres. Anexample is the recently published Oca

(Oxalis tuberosa) descriptor list,produced in collaboration with theCooperative Program on Biodiversity

of Andean Root and Tuber Cropsthat is coordinated by the Interna-tional Potato Center (CIP). A list forulluco (Ullucus tuberosus) iscurrently in preparation within thesame collaborative arrangementwith CIP.

To date, IPGRI has publisheddescriptor lists for 17 crops nativeto the Americas (see box) and formany other introduced crops impor-tant to this region. A full listof the IPGRI descriptors availablein electronic format can be seen athttp://www.ipgri.cgiar.org/publications/pubseries.asp? ID_SERIE=13.

For further information on theproduction of crop descriptors,contact Adriana Alercia <a.alercia@cgiar.org> at the IPGRI headquartersin Rome and/or Tito Franco<t.franco@cgiar.org> at the IPGRIAmericas Office.

Avocado, beans, Brazil nut, chilipeppers, cotton, maize, oca,papaya, peanuts, potato, pineapple,quinoa, strawberry, sunflower,sweet potato, taro and tomato

American crops for which IPGRIAmerican crops for which IPGRIAmerican crops for which IPGRIAmerican crops for which IPGRIAmerican crops for which IPGRIdescriptor lists are availabledescriptor lists are availabledescriptor lists are availabledescriptor lists are availabledescriptor lists are available

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Etnobotanical inventoryof fruits native to the Americas

AAAAAmerindian farmers are well-known for the extraordinary numberand diversity of fruit species thatthey and their ancestors domes-ticated. Worldwide, the best knownof these native American fruits arepineapple, papaya and avocado.Recent interest in tropical fruit pro-duction has made other fruits popu-lar, such as passion fruit, sweetgranadilla, banana passion fruit,soursop, naranjilla, ground-cherryand tree tomato. However, manyothers remain to be discovered,studied and promoted.

To raise awareness on thepotential of native fruits in theAmericas, and encourage theiruse, IPGRI and CIRAD-FLHORhave compiled information on1174 fruit species native to theAmericas in an inventory thatreports the highest number ofspecies to date and includesuseful information about each.The inventory uses hypertexttechnology to facilitate accessto related information in variousways, links the inventory withexternal sources and system-atically updates it.

The inventory is arranged byfamily, genus and species. Theentry page leads to a table offamilies whose names link toother pages with genera andspecies.

There the reader will find infor-mation on the species’ taxonomy,common names in various lan-guages, origin and geographical

distribution, degree of domestica-tion, uses of the fruit and plant,and key bibliographic referencesfor further research on the species.

Links to fact sheets provide furtherand more specific information oncertain species. The fact sheetsare illustrated with color photo-graphs and describe the plantand its fruit, the uses of all partsof the plant, the degree of commer-cialization and the propertiestraditionally attributed to theplant. The fact sheets are alsolinked to publications on thefamily, genus, species or groupof species in the inventory aswell as on other Internet siteswith information on fruit crops.

New information is regularlybeing added to the inventory.Seventy-four new species andforty-five fact sheets (for a totalof 140) have been added sinceJanuary 2001, when the inven-tory was first made available tothe public via the Internet. Thecompilers encourage readers tohelp update the inventory bycontributing articles, photographs,references, comments and namesof species not yet included. Contri-butions are welcomed in Englishor Spanish and will be dulycredited.

For further information and contri-butions, contact Geo Coppens<g.coppens@cgiar.org>and/or Dimary Libreros<d.libreros@cgiar.org>.

www.ciat.cgiar.org/ipgri/fruits_from_americas/frutales/fruits_from_america.htm

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Integrating conservation methodsIntegrating conservation methodsIntegrating conservation methodsIntegrating conservation methodsIntegrating conservation methodsNo single method of conservation meets all conservation needs. Species biology, resource availability, tech-nical capacity and threats to genetic resources make it necessary to combine in situ and ex situ conservationmethods. Finding a suitable combination of methods to set up a sound and efficient conservation strategy is acomplex decision-making process for which a wide variety of data has to be collected, organized and analyzed.As part of a project to improve conservation strategies and methods, the IPGRI Americas Group developedsome guidelines to decide what to conserve, why and how, and a decision tool that integrates biological,technological and management aspects of conservation. The guidelines and decision tool were tested in Peruat the end of 2000, with staff from the national programme PRONARGEB, to put together a complementaryconservation strategy for cassava (Manihot esculenta).

Plant healthPlant healthPlant healthPlant healthPlant healthStoring and moving germplasm carries the risk of disseminating diseases and pests that may reduce germ-plasm longevity and utilization, and increase genetic erosion. In collaboration with national and internationalorganizations, IPGRI is detecting phytosanitary problems in germplasm collections that may be affectinggenetic resources management in the Americas. Pathogens and pests that affect economically importantcrops for Latin America (namely coconut, beans, soybean, oil palm and fruit trees) are being characterized.For further information contact Francisco Morales, Plant Health Specialist <f.j.morales@cgiar.org>.

Use of germplasm conserved Use of germplasm conserved Use of germplasm conserved Use of germplasm conserved Use of germplasm conserved ex situex situex situex situex situGermplasm conserved in genebanks worldwide is estimated to be about six million accessions although littleis known about how much of this germplasm has been used and for what purposes. Many factors that limit theuse of plant genetic resources have been identified, but their relative importance and how they can be over-come are yet unclear. That information is crucial to justify continued support for ex situ conservation effortsand to improve genebank management. Through a series of case studies, IPGRI is collecting and analyzingdata on the use of plant germplasm conserved ex situ in Asia and Latin America. Three studies are beingconducted in the Americas, in collaboration with CIAT, CATIE and USDA. Data on the distribution of germplasmof amaranth, beans, cassava, cucumber, forages, green peppers, melon, squash, sunflower and tomato, heldin these genebanks, are being collected and analyzed. Patterns of germplasm use are also being sought in theSpanish and Portuguese literature reporting on genetic resources distribution and use. For further informationcontact Luigi Guarino <l.guarino@cgiar.org> and/or Dimary Libreros <d.libreros@cgiar.org>.

Access to genetic resourcesAccess to genetic resourcesAccess to genetic resourcesAccess to genetic resourcesAccess to genetic resourcesIPGRI contributes to monitor the international debate on key policy issues affecting the management, availabil-ity and use of plant genetic resources. IPGRI activities on this topic focus on analyzing and providing informa-tion, advising partners in response to their queries and providing tools to aid their decision-making. Withsupport from the Canadian Government, the IPGRI Americas Group is studying how the changes in interna-tional plant genetic resources policy and legislation implemented during the last decade are affecting LatinAmerican countries, especially the Andean Community. The study will also assess how the Common Regimeof Access (Decision 391) has affected the ability of Andean countries to reduce agrobiodiversity erosion andtake advantage of advances in biotechnology. For further information contact Yvon Gamache<y.gamache@cgiar.org>.

Conserving and using forest genetic resourcesConserving and using forest genetic resourcesConserving and using forest genetic resourcesConserving and using forest genetic resourcesConserving and using forest genetic resourcesForestry and forest genetic resources are important for many Latin American countries, as reflected in thenumber and diversity of organizations involved in forest species conservation and use. IPGRI is identifyingnational and international organizations in Latin America to promote a regional network of forest geneticresources. It is also providing information on forestry issues and studying the impact of human activities onforest genetic resources conservation, in collaboration with the International Centre for Research inAgroforestry (ICRAF) and partners from Argentina, Brazil and Germany. For further information contactPaulo van Breugel <p.vanbreugel@cgiar.org>.

Activities and projectsNew

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Molecular geneticsin IPGRI

RRRRRecent scientific breakthroughs such asthe sequencing of the human genome andthat of Arabidopsis thaliana–a model plantfor geneticists–and the first draft of the fullsequence of rice, have certainly increasedour understanding of the genetic structureand function of genes in living organisms.Advances in molecular genetics will contin-ue to improve our understanding of geneticdiversity, help us identify useful genes ingermplasm collections and develop moreeffective conservation strategies. For thesereasons, IPGRI has set up a Strategic Planon Molecular Genetics to help ensure thatthe tools of biotechnology reach developingcountries where they can strengthen na-tional efforts to conserve, characterizeand use genetic resources.

The Plan intends to gradually introduce newmolecular characterization methods withoutneglecting traditional ones. Therefore, activi-ties within the Plan will include training,development of training materials in molecu-lar techniques and their applications, anddissemination of existing information.

IPGRI will facilitate research projects inpartnership with developed and developingcountries. For example, the extent anddistribution of genetic diversity will be stud-ied by evaluating the selective capabilitiesof molecular methods, combining molecularand spatial data, estimating differences invariation between wild and cultivated spe-cies, and the relationships among species in the same botanical family based on thesimilarity of their genomic structures. Otherprojects will focus on improving genebankmanagement, such as developingmicrosatellites to characterize germplasm

and testing molecular techniques that canimprove breeders’ efficiency when screeninggermplasm collections for specific traits.

The technological advances made on thegenomes of model species will be transferredto other species of interest to our partners.Thus, IPGRI will facilitate research in minorcrops and underutilized species to identifyimportant genes through homologous genesidentified in model species.

In the policy arena, IPGRI will assess thepotential impact of genetic transformation andapomixis in genetic resources conservationand environmental protection. Intellectualproperty issues associated with genes andgenotypes will also be addressed.

The Plan will be implemented through collabo-rative, interdisciplinary and coordinatedactivities with both public and private institu-tions. Special attention will be given to South-South collaboration to facilitate access ofless-endowed countries to information avail-able worldwide.

Molecular genetics has the potential to solveproblems associated with the conservationand use of genetic resources. The develop-ment and implementation of the IPGRI Strate-gic Plan on Molecular Genetics will contributeto more effective conservation decisions,greater use of plant genetic resources andhelp bridge the technological gap betweencountries at different stages of development.

For further information on IPGRI activities onmolecular genetics, contact María del Carmende Vicente <c.devicent@cgiar.org>.

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IIIIIPGRI has established the Vavilov-Frankel Fellowship Fund tocommemorate the unique contributions to plant science by Academi-cian Nikolai Ivanovich Vavilov and Sir Otto Frankel. The Fund aimsto encourage the conservation and use of plant genetic resources indeveloping countries through awarding fellowships to outstandingyoung researchers. The fellowships will enable the applicants tocarry out relevant, innovative research outside their own country fora period of between three months to one year. The research shouldhave a clear benefit to the home country, preferably in areas of theapplicant’s future research. Awards can be held concurrently withother sources of support.

In 2002, a total of US$50,000 will be made available for awards. Themaximum award per fellow will be US$25,000 and is intended tocover travel, stipend, bench fees, equipment, conference participa-tion or any other use relevant for the research project. Such researchshould be linked to innovative topics related to the conservation anduse of plant genetic resources such as new conservation technolo-gies and strategies, socioeconomic and human aspects of conserva-tion and use, germplasm management, forest genetic resources,policy development, genetic erosion assessment and mitigation, andconservation and utilization of specific crops. Work solely on plantbreeding or molecular characterization will not be selected. Fellowsare encouraged to present the results of their research at an interna-tional conference within one year of termination of the fellowship.

Applications for the year 2002 are invited from developing-countrynationals, aged 35 or under, holding a masters degree (or equivalent)and/or doctorate in a relevant subject area. Application forms inEnglish, French and Spanish may be obtained from Dimary Libreros<d.libreros@cgiar.org> or at http://www.ipgri.cgiar.org/training/vavilov.htm. Applications should be sent by mail, fax or email toVavilov-Frankel Fellowships, IPGRI, Via dei Tre Denari 472/a, 00057Maccarese (Fiumicino), Rome, Italy; fax (39) 066 197 9661; email:e.clancy@cgiar.org and must be received at IPGRI before 16November 2001 .

Applications are accepted in English, French or Spanish. The com-pleted application form should be accompanied by a cover letter, afull curriculum vitae, a research proposal (1000 words, maximum,including a clear statement of objectives, feasibility, methodology,materials, justification of the relevance to plant genetic resourcesand possible outcomes or impacts), a letter of acceptance from theproposed host institute and a letter of support from the home institute.The successful applicants will be informed by 31 March 2002 andare required to take up their fellowships before 31 December 2002.

Vavilov-FrankelFellowships 2002

Grants in 2001Grants in 2001Grants in 2001Grants in 2001Grants in 2001awarded to Latinawarded to Latinawarded to Latinawarded to Latinawarded to LatinAmerican scientistsAmerican scientistsAmerican scientistsAmerican scientistsAmerican scientists

Vavilov-Frankel fellowshipsof 2001 were granted toErnesto Méndez , fromEl Salvador, and AdrianaOtero , from Mexico, toconduct their researchprojects in the UnitedStates at the Universitiesof California and Georgia,respectively. Ernesto, aresearcher from PROCAFE,will study the conservationof coffee on-farm and incooperatives in El Salvador.Adriana, a graduate studentat Universidad Autónomade México, will study thegenetic structure and geneflow of wild and domesti-cated populations ofPolaskia chichipe, a cactusfrom the Tehuacan valley.

12

PPPPPartners from the region often comment on

their lack of access to training opportunities

and updated information on topics associated

with their work on plant genetic resources. In

response to that need, we announce upcoming

training courses in this newsletter and continue

to compile information on training events rel-

evant to our partners in the region. This infor-

mation is periodically sent electronically to key

partners, libraries and institutional focal points

for further dissemination.

The number of courses and graduate program-

mes on plant genetic resources offered in the

region has considerably increased. So has the

information on training events, now largely

available on web sites. We are facing a

problem of space in this newsletter to announce

the increasing number of courses. So, instead

of including a list of courses in this issue, we

would like to introduce TROP, a database of

Training opportunities

TTTTTraining Opportunities Database, TROPraining Opportunities Database, TROPraining Opportunities Database, TROPraining Opportunities Database, TROPraining Opportunities Database, TROP

InstructionsInstructionsInstructionsInstructionsInstructionsCourse titletype any word withoutwildcardsKeywords (subject)Plant SpeciesOrganizer NameStarting dateafter (default is today´sdate), before, or be-tween dates (use thestyle mm/dd/yyyy)LocationLanguage

Course Title

Keywords

Plant Species

Organizer Name

After Before Between(mm/dd/yyyy) 06/21/2001 and

Location

LanguageSearch Reset

training opportunities that IPGRI is making

available for its partners at http://www.ipgri.

cgiar.org/training/trop.htm.

TROP is part of an IPGRI project on capacity

building and institutional support that is imple-

mented in all regions. It has information on

courses, graduate programmes and work-

shops being offered for a variety of target

groups. Information provided for a specific

course includes title, a brief description of

contents, dates, venue, language of instruction

and contact details of organizers to find out

more details. TROP also contains links to

organizations that offer financial support for

training.

TROP has a simple search mechanism with

a few fields assisted by pop-up menus that

help users select options that fit their search

goals (see box below).

13

Plant genetic resourcesin the Internet

BiotechnologyBiotechnologyBiotechnologyBiotechnologyBiotechnology

http://www.cellbio.com/

Site on cell and molecular biology with information for researchers, students andteachers. This site is organized in broad categories including research, educationand communication. It provides information on courses, grants, online publica-tions, protocols and methods for laboratory work. It contains links to other sites onmolecular biology.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Database/index.html

This site belongs to the U.S. National Center for Biotechnology Information. Itcontains a number of databases where you can find the nucleotide sequence,protein sequence, genome map and macromolecular structure of over 100,000species of plants, fungi and bacteria. Bibliographic references and links tojournals on biotechnology are also included. Those looking for the DNA se-quence of a particular species will find this site useful.

BiodiversityBiodiversityBiodiversityBiodiversityBiodiversity

http://www.biodiversity.uno.edu/cgi-bin/hl?botany

Gateway to information on biodiversity, with links to herbaria, botanical gardens,universities, databases and germplasm catalogues. It is indicated for research-ers, students and university professors.

http://www.sp2000.org/

Fourteen databases on over 220,000 plant, animal, fungi and microbial speciesare available in this site. Information on the species includes taxonomy, syn-onyms, geographic distribution and bibliographic references. Users can searchsimultaneously in various databases.

http://hortiplex.gardenweb.com/plants/

The HortiPlex database contains plant data and links to information sources andimages at other sites. The site leads you to a nomenclature database whichprovides botanical information on each taxon. HortiPlex allows you to search bycommon name, family, genus or species.

http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/Indices/index_ab.html

This site, supported by Purdue University, contains and index of useful plantsorganized alphabetically by common and scientific names. It provides the tax-onomy, geographic distribution, botanical characteristics and production of somespecies as well as bibliographic references.

BotanyBotanyBotanyBotanyBotany

http://www.anbg.gov.au/glossary/glossary.html

This page has a list of links to glossaries of botanical terms on the Internet.It is convenient for students and teachers of botany and biology.

http://garden-gate.prairienet.org/botrts.htm

This page leads to a glossary of over 1000 roots of botanical names, organizedin alphabetical order. It is useful for those interested in plant classification orcurious about what is the meaning behind a scientific name.

14

Readings

TTTTTaxonomyaxonomyaxonomyaxonomyaxonomy, evolution and origin, evolution and origin, evolution and origin, evolution and origin, evolution and origin

Gonçalves, E.G. 2000. Xanthosoma riparium(Araceae), a new species from Goias, Brazil.Novon 10(1):26-28.

Potter, D., J.J. Luby and R.E. Harrison. 2000.Phylogenetic relationships among species ofFragaria (Rosaceae) inferred from non-codingnuclear and chloroplast DNA sequences.Systematic Botany 25(2):337-348.

Ulmer, T. and M. Schwerdtferger. 2000. A newspecies of Passiflora subgenus Tacsonia(Passifloraceae) from the Andes of Peru.Nordic Journal of Botany 20(1):47-49.

on plant genetic resources

ForestryForestryForestryForestryForestry

http://www.metla.fi/info/vlib/Forestry/

This site is supported by the Information Services of the FinnishForest Research Institute. It is a virtual library on forestry with linksto a wide variety of databases, botanical gardens and librariesworldwide.

http://www.grn.es/fl/

BIBLIOFOR is a database with 19,000 bibliographic references onforestry research conducted mainly in Spain since 1930. It allowsthe user to search by genus, species and year of publication.Search results appear as a citation of articles, theses, monographsand gray literature.

http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/trees/index.htm

This site, supported by the University of Florida, contains 680downloadable fact sheets of tree species, including some fruit treesof interest in the Americas. It is organized by family, common nameand scientific name. Fact sheets contain species taxonomy, botani-cal description, uses and management.

15

Genetic diversityGenetic diversityGenetic diversityGenetic diversityGenetic diversity

Azkue, D. de. 2000. Chromosome diversity ofSouth American Oxalis (Oxalidaceae). BotanicalJournal of the Linnean Society 132(2):143-152.

Huang, H.W., D.R. Layne and T.L. Kubisiak.2000. RAPD inheritance and diversity in paw-paw (Asimina triloba). Journal of the AmericanSociety for Horticultural Science 125(4):454-459.

Vargas, E.M., G. Macaya, J.P. Baudoin and O.J.Rocha. 2000. Variation in the content of phaseo-lin in wild populations of lima beans (Phaseoluslunatus L.) in the Central Valley of Costa Rica.Plant Genetic Resources Newsletter 121:53-58.

International Plant Genetic Resources Institute (IPGRI), Americas GroupA.A. 6713, Cali, Colombia. Phone: (57-2) 445-0048/9; Fax: (57-2) 445-0096;

Email: ciat-ipgri@cgiar.org; Web address: http://www.ipgri.cgiar.org/regions/Americas

16

BiotechnologyBiotechnologyBiotechnologyBiotechnologyBiotechnology

Colombo, C., G. Second and A. Charrier. 2000. Diversity within American cassava germplasm basedon RAPD markers. Genetic and Molecular Biology 23(1):189-199.

Beebe, S., P.W. Skroch, J. Tohme, M.C. Duque, F. Pedraza y J. Nienhuis. 2000. Structure of geneticdiversity among common bean landraces of middle American origin based on correspondence analy-sis of RAPD. Crop Science 40(1):264-273.

Huang, J.C. and M. Sun. 2000. Genetic diversity and relationships of sweet potato and its wild relativesin Ipomoea series Batatas (Convolvulaceae) as revealed by inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) andrestriction analysis of chloroplast DNA. Theoretical and Applied Genetics 100(7):1050-1060.

Szczerbakowa, A., M. Borkowska and B. Wielgat. 2000. Plant regeneration from the protoplast ofSolanum tuberosum, S. nigrum and S. bulbocastanum. Acta Physiologiae Plantarum 22(1):3-10.

Germplasm characterization and evaluationGermplasm characterization and evaluationGermplasm characterization and evaluationGermplasm characterization and evaluationGermplasm characterization and evaluation

Carvalho, P.S. de, J.E.F. Bezerra, I.E. Lederman, M.A. Alves and M.L. de Melo Neto. 2000. Performanceof custard apple (Annona squamosa L.) genotypes in the Moxoto River Valley. III. Growth and yieldcharacteristics - 1992-1997. Revista Brasileira de Fruticultura 22(1):27-30.

Deighton, N., R. Brennan, C. Finn and H.V. Davies. 2000. Antioxidant properties of domesticated andwild Rubus species. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture 80(9):1307-1313.

Grosso, N.R., V. Nepote and C.A. Guzman. 2000. Chemical composition of some wild peanut species(Arachis L.) seed. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 48(3):806-809.

Sanchez G., J.J., M.M. Goodman and C.W. Stuber. 2000. Isozymatic and morphological diversity in theraces of maize of Mexico. Economic Botany 54(1):43-59.